Author: Umakant Mishra
Abstract:
Toolbar is one among the popular elements of a graphical
user interface. The other popular elements of graphical user interface are
buttons, menu, scrollbar, dialog box etc., all of which provide easy access to
various functions of a GUI
System.
A toolbar often does a similar function as the menu but with
certain differences. A menu has the advantage of holding a large number of
items without needing any additional screen space. In contrast, each button on
the toolbar permanently occupies some space on the screen. It’s not possible to
implement large number of functions through a toolbar, as they will occupy more
and more valuable screen space. However, the toolbar has an advantage as it
gives a single click access to any function unlike a menu system where the user
has to navigate through sub-menus to ultimate discover the item he is looking
for.
This article explores the desired features of a toolbar and
the ideal features of an advanced toolbar. The contradictions are described
from a TRIZ perspective and solutions are derived using Inventive principles.
Besides the article illustrates 10 inventions on improving Toolbars selected
from US patent database.
Keywords: TRIZ, Software Inventions, Graphical User
Interface, Software Patents, Inventive Problem Solving, Adaptable menu,
Toolbar, flexible toolbar, expandable toolbar, collapsible toolbar, command
buttons
Mishra, Umakant, 10 Inventions
on Improving Toolbars: A TRIZ Based Analysis (September 7, 2007). Available at
SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1264683
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